Interview: Joe Mangrum
Why, we NEVER! SFist will concede that you can find great Mexican outside of our fair city, but to say that the best burrito is in CHICAGO? Spralkjwere! That’s the sound of us spluttering in disbelief. Joe Mangrum is the interview subject who has had the audacity to make this claim... we’ll let you hash this one out with him in the comments section.
When he’s not attempting to get every single resident of the Mission to fight him, Joe makes art (maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see some of his stuff around the city) and has experiences that are so bizarrely San Francisco, that they make the rest of you question whether you’ve ever actually lived here, yet.
Best place to see art?
Di Rosa Preserve
What's your take on the art scene here?
That I prefer Art openings without live music or even a DJ …just some background music and wine…I like when people actually talk about art and give it the attention it deserves.
Something that most people don't really appreciate about your art
That it’s more than just COOL! That there is more there for people to wrap their mind around and that 12 years of work in installations tell quite a story when viewed all together.
Where can people see your art?
You can join my list on my website http://www.joemangrum.com come to see it live or check out what’s online….I also have a few different book projects in the works with The Natural World Museum, an art History book , and one that I’m publishing myself
Name
Joe Mangrum
Introduce yourself in one sentence
An overly optimistic dreamer who is caught somewhere between his ideal and reality
Age and Occupation
37 Joe of all trades
Home Town
Florissant MO
How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where?
12 years in the art ghettos of San Francisco. Because Who wants to live in LA and New York/Europe just hasn’t happened yet.
Favorite place to spend time online
Podcasting democracy now
Favorite local business
Naked Eye Video… Steve knows all!!!
What You're currently Reading
Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back by Amy Goodman
Best Deal in San Francisco
The weather
Favorite mode of transportation
Autopilot
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Eric McFadden
Sean Hayes
Turn me on Dead Man to name a few….oh and Big Soul and DJ Soul Salaam
Favorite Bay Area Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
Spontaneously deciding what to do on a Friday night…holding out for the best option…. Then deciding it’s to trendy and doing something else
Favorite local hangout
My fiancé Deborah
SF has the BEST
Freaks
You've never lived in SF until
You’ve seen dykes dressed as nuns wearing strap- ons and playing ring toss
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
Emperor Norton
Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
A ken doll on Halloween!
You can tell someone is a local here IF
They know who Emperor Norton is
SF would be soooo much better if only:
There was an artists bubble
Best Burrito
Corner of Ashland & Blackhawk in Chicago unless your veggie then go for the blackened tofu/mushroom at Taco Loco in Laguna Beach Ca
Best Restaurant
Can’t tell ya I would like to get a table when I go!
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF
Haiku Tunnel
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area
ezrali
Place you always tell visitors to check out
Big Sur/Redwoods
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Explore the city with my queen bee
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
Just about everything
I want all the SFists out there to know
It’s a beautiful day, what are you reading this for?????
Tell us a San Francisco Story
So I bought this I-book on ebay… it was shipped never showed. Tracking by UPS said it was delivered, but I had not received it. About a week later when I’m ready to get all the insurance claims etc a friend calls me and says he has a package at his house for me. Turns out UPS delivered it to his place with not anything in common about our names addresses whatsoever. So after a while SF gets to be really small and it’s good to have friends.